Esther’s Request to the King
1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
4“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
5“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
7Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai
9Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,5:14 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
Ẹ̀bẹ̀ Esteri sí ọba
1Ní ọjọ́ kẹta Esteri wọ aṣọ ayaba rẹ̀ ó sì dúró sí inú àgbàlá ààfin, ní iwájú gbọ̀ngàn ọba, ọba Jókòó lórí ìtẹ́ ìjọba rẹ̀ nínú gbọ̀ngàn, ó kọjú sí ẹnu-ọ̀nà ìta. 2Nígbà tí ó rí ayaba Esteri tí ó dúró nínú àgbàlá, inú rẹ̀ yọ́ sí i, ọba sì na ọ̀pá aládé wúrà ọwọ́ rẹ̀ sí i. Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni Esteri ṣe súnmọ́ ọn ó sì fi ọwọ́ kan orí ọ̀pá náà.
35.3,6: Mk 6.23.Nígbà náà ni ọba béèrè pé, “Kí ni ó dé, ayaba Esteri? Kí ni o fẹ́? Bí ó tilẹ̀ ṣe títí dé ìdajì ọba mi, àní, a ó fi fún ọ.”
4Esteri sì dáhùn pé, “Bí ó bá tẹ́ ọba lọ́rùn, jẹ́ kí ọba, pẹ̀lú Hamani, wá lónìí sí ibi àsè tí èmi ti pèsè fún un.”
5Ọba sì wí pé, “ẹ mú Hamani wá kíákíá, nítorí kí a lè ṣe ohun tí Esteri béèrè fún un.”
Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni ọba àti Hamani lọ sí ibi àsè tí Esteri ti pèsè. 6Bí wọ́n ṣe ń mu wáìnì, ọba tún béèrè lọ́wọ́ Esteri, “Báyìí pé: kí ni ẹ̀bẹ̀ rẹ? A ó sì fi fún ọ. Kí ni ìwọ ń béèrè fún? Àní bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ ìdajì ìjọba mi, a ó fi fún ọ.”
7Esteri sì dáhùn, “Ẹ̀bẹ̀ mi àti ìbéèrè mi ni èyí: 8Bí ọba bá fi ojúrere rẹ̀ fún mi, tí ó bá sì tẹ́ ọba lọ́rùn láti gba ẹ̀bẹ̀ mi àti láti mú ìbéèrè mi ṣẹ, jẹ́ kí ọba àti Hamani wá ní ọ̀la sí ibi àsè tí èmi yóò pèsè fún wọn. Nígbà náà ni èmi yóò dáhùn ìbéèrè ọba.”
Ìrunú Hamani sí Mordekai
9Hamani jáde lọ ní ọjọ́ náà pẹ̀lú ayọ̀ àti inú dídùn. Ṣùgbọ́n nígbà tí ó rí Mordekai ní ẹnu-ọ̀nà ọba, ó wòye pé kò dìde tàbí kí ó bẹ̀rù ní iwájú òun, inú bí i gidigidi sí Mordekai. 10Ṣùgbọ́n, Hamani kó ara rẹ̀ ní ìjánu, ó lọ sí ilé.
Ó pe àwọn ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀ jọ àti Sereṣi ìyàwó rẹ̀ 11Hamani gbéraga sí wọn nípa títóbi ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀, púpọ̀ àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀, àti gbogbo ọ̀nà tí ọba ti bu ọlá fún un àti bí ó ṣe gbé e ga ju àwọn ọlọ́lá àti àwọn ìjòyè tókù lọ. 12Hamani tún fi kún un pé, “Kì í ṣe èyí nìkan. Èmi nìkan ni ayaba Esteri pè láti sin ọba wá sí ibi àsè tí ó sè. Bákan náà, ó sì tún ti pè mí pẹ̀lú ọba ní ọ̀la. 13Ṣùgbọ́n gbogbo èyí kò ì tí ì tẹ́ mi lọ́rùn níwọ̀n ìgbà tí mo bá sì ń rí Mordekai ará a Júù náà tí ó ń jókòó ní ẹnu-ọ̀nà ọba.”
14Ìyàwó rẹ̀ Sereṣi àti àwọn ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀ wí fún un pé, “Ri igi kan, kí ó ga tó ìwọ̀n ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ bàtà márùn-ún le láàdọ́rin, kí o sì sọ fún ọba ní òwúrọ̀ ọ̀la kí ó gbé Mordekai rọ̀ sórí i rẹ̀. Nígbà náà ni ìwọ yóò bá ọba lọ sí ibi àsè pẹ̀lú ayọ̀.” Èrò yí dùn mọ́ Hamani nínú, ó sì ri igi náà.
